Iraqi PM declares ‘end of IS caliphate’

Haider al-Abadi hailed a defeat of the jihadist group after Iraqi troops recaptured the historic mosque – the site where Islamic State announced the creation of their so-called caliphate three years ago.

In a statement, Abadi said: “The return of al-Nuri Mosque and al-Hadba minaret to the fold of the nation marks the end of the Daesh state of falsehood.”

He said Iraqi forces would continue to hunt Islamic State’s fighters “to kill them and detain them, down to the last one”.

The insurgents blew up the medieval mosque and its famed leaning minaret a week ago as US-backed Iraqi forces advanced towards it.